Long-term care doesn't have to mean financial ruin.
A Medicaid planner helps families navigate asset rules and the 5-year look-back so the right care is accessible — without losing everything.
Every month under review
When you apply for Medicaid long-term care, the state reviews the previous 60 months of bank statements, transfers, and gifts. Anything they consider an "uncompensated transfer" creates a penalty period.
How spend-down actually works
Three steps from current finances to Medicaid eligibility. The estate sale is usually step 2.
Identify countable assets
Bank accounts, investments, second homes, vehicles beyond the first, jewelry, collectibles, and personal property all count toward Medicaid's asset limits.
Spend down strategically
Estate sales, paying off the mortgage, prepaying funeral, home modifications, and qualified annuities all reduce countable assets — legally.
Qualify for coverage
Once below state limits (often $2,000 individual / $3,000 couple), Medicaid covers nursing care. The home is usually exempt while the senior is alive.
Two situations, two strategies
Both are worth talking to a planner about. Even crisis planning, started today, often beats doing nothing.
Proactive planning
- Set up irrevocable trusts that fall outside the look-back window
- Transfer assets to a spouse or disabled child
- Restructure portfolio to maximize what stays in the family
- Plan funeral and burial expenses (always exempt)
Protects the maximum amount of family wealth — often 50–80% more than crisis planning.
Crisis planning
- Spend-down plan (estate sale, debt payoff, exempt purchases)
- Spousal refusal or community spouse resource allowance
- Medicaid-compliant annuities to convert assets to income
- File the application as soon as countable assets are below limits
Even in a crisis, a planner often saves 30–50% of remaining assets vs. doing nothing.
What care actually costs (annual)
National median ranges. Your state will vary.
Source: Genworth Cost of Care 2024 national medians.
It's also about peace of mind
Adult children are usually the ones figuring this out — under stress, on a deadline, while also managing a parent's medical care. A planner takes the spreadsheet anxiety off your plate and replaces it with a written, actionable plan.
- One professional who handles the whole application
- A defensible paper trail that survives an audit
- Clear answers on what's exempt and what isn't
- Coordination with your estate sale company and attorney
Also need an estate sale company?
Liquidating personal property is often a core part of the spend-down. Find a vetted local company that provides documented, fair-market-value sales.
Find an estate sale company →Find a Medicaid Planner Near You
Connect with long-term care planning specialists in your area.
Common questions
The right planner protects what you've spent a lifetime building.
Medicaid planning is time-sensitive. Connect with a specialist in your area for a no-obligation conversation.